The Republic of Chad is set to deploy 1,500 soldiers to Haiti as part of a United Nations-backed security force aimed at curbing escalating gang violence in the Caribbean nation. This announcement was made in a letter addressed to the Chadian Parliament by President Mahamat Déby Itno.
According to the letter, which was read to lawmakers on Monday, two battalions of 750 soldiers each will be dispatched this month for a one-year mission at the request of the UN. President Déby emphasized the honor of contributing to this initiative, stating, “A contingent of 400 troops has already been deployed to Haiti as part of this mission, which reflects the strength and dedication of Chad’s defense and security forces.”
UN’s expanded mandate in Haiti
The United Nations Security Council last year approved an expansion of the multinational force led by Kenya—known as the Gang Suppression Force—to 5,500 personnel. The mandate was also broadened to include the arrest of suspected gang members, a power the previous force lacked.
The initial mission, launched in 2023, was supposed to include 2,500 personnel under Kenyan police leadership but faced significant challenges due to insufficient staffing and funding.
Gang violence grips Haiti
Deadly gangs now control up to 90% of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, as well as vast rural areas. The security crisis deepened in 2021 when armed assailants assassinated former President Jovenel Moïse at his residence.
Recent violence has intensified, with at least 30 fatalities and numerous disappearances reported following a brutal attack by the Gran Grif gang on the town of Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite in central Haiti last month, according to human rights organizations.